Prada Declares 2021 Sustainability Initiative Converting All Iconic Nylon Bags To Econyl

Even iconic products like Prada’s famous nylon bags need to advance to retain their original meaning, relevance, and status. Miuccia Prada is increasingly onboard with sustainability, giving up fur a month ago and now pledging to convert the “virgin nylon’ used in her famous bags to Econyl. a regenerated-nylon yarn that can be recycled an infinite number of times. The new fabric is made from reclaimed ocean plastics, fishing nets and textile fiber waste.

To kickstart the important sustainability effort, Prada will release a belt bag, a tote, duffle, two backpacks, and a shoulder style unisex capsule collection. The project is a collab with Aquafil, an Italian company with more than half a century of expertise in creating synthetic fibers.

A portion of revenues will be donated to UNESCO’s sustainability teaching programs.

When Prada first introduced the now-iconic nylon backpack to the luxury fashion sphere in 1984, it was “really an idea”. “I was searching,” Mrs Prada told Vogue in 2018, “because I hated all the bags that were around. They were so formal, so lady, so traditional, so classic.” British Vogue reminds us of the obvious, that Miuccia Prada’s greatest insight about luxury is that it’s an idea, not a product. Therefore, the product, as well as the brand position, must evolve.